Toronto Urban Film Festival - Travels

No rating

by S. James Wegg

Publish Date: September 13, 2008

Urban Travels

9 DaysTO Roadie
Hmmm, travelling the roadways from a cyclist’s perspective ends with a plea to “open doors carefully.” But if the peddlers drove the public byways like all other vehicles (excluding actual bike paths), there would be no “accidents.” What then of we helpless pedestrians who are frequently in danger of being run down by over-sized 2-wheelers that soundlessly infest the sidewalks? Can’t those cheesy bells be rung?

Bloor ViaductDavid Frankovich
Abstraction indeed. Skip the program note and let the images fend for themselves.

DriveStan Krzyzanowski
A car’s nocturnal journey conjures up a truly marvellous kaleidoscope of colour that’s compelling and invigorating at every turn—no matter the download speed.

Last StopJessie Lam
The plight of our littlest commuters is effectively animated as the “Fitchie” bus rocks and reels towards its final destination. By journey’s end, the backpack warrior has seized her prize only to share it alone. Ain’t life just like that? Talented work, ably presented.

Me and My BicycleLucas Cheong
As the adage says, “What goes around comes around.” Despite hi-tech locks, bikes are easy to steal (so are cars, but that’s in the financial section—not the human-interest column). And so we see our hero’s main ride pilfered; in turn, he cops a baby bike. Only the soles of his shoes remain on offer: I’ll give you 2 to 1.

Rainy DayAndres Victorero Rey
A black-and-white deluge of drops and destroyed umbrellas from Spain only serves to remind those of us in the New World how lucky we are. Er, hello Ike, Hanah, Katrina ….

Ramblers: Halifax Synchronized Bike TeamRebecca Singer
Two quartets of avid cyclists on the streets of wintry Halifax? What could be more fun?

Subway FantasyJonathan Robbins
Another misadventure on the TTC subway merely wets the appetite for the X-rated version.

TerminusChristopher Ernst and Geoffrey Alan Rhodes
Inner belly buttons, toy and real trains make this black-and-white journey a textbook case for psychoanalysts everywhere. The only thing missing was the “train in the tunnel” metaphor.

We Took the GardinerRachel Conduit
Cyclists where they belong: black, white and grey. The joy of the collective moving as one. Most certainly not Queen Street West during rush hour. Like all of these films, individual movement abounds, yet no potential solutions or remedies are offered. How “Toronto” is that? JWR

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